Are you looking for a simple yoga practice that you can do at home to regain your energy and feel less lethargic? Then, you have reached the right place as Yogaasan is here to help you with just that. This blog will introduce you to a simple yoga gesture called the Apana Mudra that you can do while sitting on your chair. Let us have a detailed look at it-
What is Apana Mudra?
This is a popular and significant hand gesture in yoga that is related to the apana vayu of the body. In the yoga school of philosophy, apana vayu is one of the five vital energies that governs the elimination process of the body. “Apana” in Sanskrit means energy that flows downwards And it controls the organ situated between our naval and perineum. These organs are the small intestine, colon, urinary system, and reproductive system. Thus, this is a yogic gesture that helps you improve digestion, constipation, and mensuration.
This mudra is also known to the regular practitioner as the “purification mudra”. The gist is that performing this hand gesture will give a state of balance to your body and keep the functions of your lower abdomen proper. Here is how to do this at home-
How to Do Apana Mudra?
Follow these simple steps to attain the correct posture and the best results-
- Sit in a comfortable place and keep your spine erect.
- You can sit with the legs interlocked or you can sit in any meditation pose like Sukhaasana, Padmaasana, or Vajraasana.
- Now, place your hand on your knees with the palms facing upwards to the roof.
- Fold your ring finger and middle finger to reach out to the thumb while stretching out the other fingers. Repeat the same on the other hand.
- Close your eyes and start taking deep breaths. Relax your body and focus on your breathing.
- Stay in this position for about 20 minutes and release your fingers to get back to a neutral position.
While doing this, you will likely feel the energy flow inside you which is your cue to focus more on your inner self. You can also practice this mudra with Dhyaan Mudra to attain better physical and mental health. Other apana Mudra benefits can be numerous thus Yogaasan is all set to tell you the best ones out there-
Benefits of Apana Mudra
Practising any yoga asan or yoga mudra can be very beneficial for your body, however, we have listed below a few apana mudra benefits that you should know about:
- If you have symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome, then doing this will help in stimulating the abdominal organs. This will then help in better bowel movements and in getting relief from bloating and acidity.
- It helps in flushing out the toxins from the kidney more efficiently thus regulating urinary functions.
- This is also a great practice for reproductive organs, especially for women as it can help in the removal of toxins more efficiently. You can also practice this to get relief from menstrual cramps.
- As it is great for detoxification, this is a good yoga practice to strengthen your immune system and the overall function of the body.
- If you combine this with Gyana Mudra and practice them for 30 minutes each, it can also help you get relief from migraine pains.
- Apana vayu mudra can generate energy in your body giving it more balance and harmony.
Precautions for Apana Mudra
There are a few limitations that you should be aware of if you are planning to practice this yoga gesture-
- If you have severe gastrointestinal disorders like dysentery, diarrhoea, or cholera, then you should avoid practising it.
- Do not perform this immediately after any meal as it can cause some digestive discomfort.
- While pregnant women should not practice this, women close to their delivery period can perform this as it generates a downward energy in the body.
- If you have any injury or even sprain to your abdominal region, then you should avoid doing this mudra.
Conclusion
We at Yogaasan believe that practising such simple yoga mudras can help you stay more active and refreshed. One of the best as this blog suggests is the apana mudra as it can help your body release toxins from your body more effectively and keep your digestive system, immune system, and, reproductive system more healthy.
